I would imagine that the battery cost more, the casing cost more, the speaker is larger, and so on. Of course I would like to pay next to nothing to get the iPad but I am alright with paying what they are asking.

I can see your point, but where is the value at $499? You can get a 32GB iPod Touch for $299. The screen costs them $100, so that equates to about $80 or so over the Touch. The storage capacity is halved on the Pad, so that's about $25 less.

So Touch (299) + screen (80) - storage (25) = 354

I could maybe see $399 being a decent price for the low end Pad since it's nothing more than a big iPod Touch.

FYI- The iPhone 3GS is $599 for the 16GB model and $699 for the 32GB. The $99, $199, and $299 pricing is what's called "subsidized pricing" through At&t and other official carriers. The carrier takes on the burden of the actual cost of the device and offers it at a reduced rate when entering into a 2-year agreement of service. You are actually paying much more than the retail price of the phone through subsidized pricing due to your monthly fees over a 2-year period.

It would seem that with such a profit margin, the least they could do is find a means to include flash support. I've used nothing but Apple products since about 1999. I love their products, but am growing weary of half-delivered quality on key products~

I would never expect a company to produce a product and give it away without making a decent profit from it. This economy would fall apart if business cannot turn a profit...

are you speaking of the american economy? because there is a very, very fine line between a "decent profit" and a 100% markup. as for the economy "falling apart" think of all the micro companies this giant has strangled, just so they can run their OS in more households. companies like this, ones that have become "too big to fail" have become veritable monopolies, and are the reason that, to say it bluntly, shits goin down.

The essence of capitalism lies in consumers making selfish choices, and companies having to cater to those whims, or perish. Companies like Apple are attempting to reshape this process, at not theirs, but at our peril.

Originally Posted by StealthBravo

lol. Honestly they are mostly 14-20. The age of arrogance and entitlement

are you speaking of the american economy? because there is a very, very fine line between a "decent profit" and a 100% markup. as for the economy "falling apart" think of all the micro companies this giant has strangled, just so they can run their OS in more households. companies like this, ones that have become "too big to fail" have become veritable monopolies, and are the reason that, to say it bluntly, shits goin down.

The essence of capitalism lies in consumers making selfish choices, and companies having to cater to those whims, or perish. Companies like Apple are attempting to reshape this process, at not theirs, but at our peril.

If you knew anything about business or even retail for that matter you would know that there is almost always a 100% or more markup.

What everyone is forgetting is how much everyone estimated the device to be in the first place! the lowest guess i saw was $800 us. and Apple knocked off $300! that sounds pretty great to me. And so what if its a giant ipod touch. Bigger screen= bigger fun. After all Apple is marketing it as a gaming device.

Oh and if you dont like how much apple makes off its products, Then DONT SUPPORT THEM by buying their stuff stupid.

If you knew anything about business or even retail for that matter you would know that there is almost always a 100% or more markup.

oh, well you must have achieved a higher state of being than I have. because i so foolishly believed that Microsoft losing money on every xbox they sold was a negative markup, and that they intended on making that up through their hardware sales.

how foolish of me, i now see that 21 year olds posses infinite and all seeing knowledge. i will attempt to communicate to all 18 - 20 year olds our ignorance.

FYI- The iPhone 3GS is $599 for the 16GB model and $699 for the 32GB. The $99, $199, and $299 pricing is what's called "subsidized pricing" through At&t and other official carriers. The carrier takes on the burden of the actual cost of the device and offers it at a reduced rate when entering into a 2-year agreement of service. You are actually paying much more than the retail price of the phone through subsidized pricing due to your monthly fees over a 2-year period.

FYI - I said 32GB iPod Touch since this thing is a big *** ipod touch, not a big *** iphone.

I know the difference between a phone and an mp3 player. And I am also well aware of the pricing scheme of iPhones.